Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-05-19
GOLD-FACED DEAD MEN.
Banishing Grave-Yards by the Adoption OF
the Electro-Plating Process.


the Electro-Plating Process.
An ingenious Philadelphia has de-
rised process for the preservation of
bodies which will cause blush of envy
and modification to mantle the wrinkled
cheek of the most ancient mummy the
tombs of Egypt can produce. By this
new method future generations may |
have the pleasure of gazing upon their |
ancestry in q close semblance of their |
natural form, with shape and outline |
carefully preserved and the whole body |
beautifed beyond the utmost POSSIBLE
ties of nature. No more will departed
friends and relatives be treasured up as
bundles of rags and bones or as pinches
of ashes in cinerary urns, but in the
full form and size of their ante-mortem
existence. The means by which this
wonderful transformation is to be ac-
complished is but new application OF
an old principle long in use in mechanic
arts. 1t is simply the old and familiar
process of electro-plating, which fur
nishes modern households with so many
articles of ornament and utility.
The method of its application in the
preservation of bodies is as follows:
The corpse is first thoroughly washed
with alcohol, or with solution of
caustic potash followed by very dilute
nitric acid, in order to cleanse the body
and remove all traces of oily or greasy
exudations. Then the entire surface of
the body, from which all hair must be
entirely removed, is busted over with
finely powdered plumbago, care being
taken to cover every portion of the sur
face. AS the purpose of the plumbago
is to furnish a conducting surface, any
uncovered spot upon the corpse would
cause a break in the plating. The
Africanized remnant of humanity is
then immersed in a bath of metallic
solution containing a lump of the metal
with which it is desired to coat the body.
To the piece of metal is attached the
positive pole of a strong galvanic bat
terry or powerful dynamo-electric ma
chine, and the negative pole is con-
nected with the body. The action of
the powerful current of electricity i'm
mediately commences, covering the
body with fine film of metal, which is
deposited evenly over the entire surface.
As long as the electrical current is I'M
interrupted the deposit of the metal
continues, and the coating may thus be
made of any desired thickness. In a
length of time proportioned to the
strength of the electrical current the
entire body may be enveloped in a
metallic shroud an eighth or a quarter
of an inch in thickness, or even more il
desired. By this impervious coat the
remains are thus perfectly protected
from decay, and may be preserved fol
an indefinite number of years.
!, Outside of its advantages as a method
of preserving remains this process has
great commercial and artistic value
, The morgues of the various large cities
would furnish an ample supply of ma
terial which might easily be worked VI
into nickel-plated dummies for use by
, clothiers and dry goods merchants il
displaying garments and dress goods
, With limbs and body arranged in grace
, full postures, an unclaimed body coult
readily be transformed into valuabl,
: work of art. Dying gladiators, wrest
lers and Greek and Roman figures coulc
be reproduced in unlimited numbers
Thus the unknown suicide and bodie
=. fished from ponds and rivers could fine
a final resting places in art museums o
& fashionable parlors instead of being Gu
4 and sawed asunder by the ambition
% medical student.
4, One can readily imagine the feeling
!. of pride with which the man of hun
% bred years hence would lead his visito
4 into his mortuary chamber and poin
) out each member of his silver-plate
ancestry, beautifully polished and nat
!. urally grouped about the room. Their
= would be in those days no need for a
"a expensive burial lot in fashionabl
o cemetery, and there would be no us
It for the costly and ostentatious funer;
r of to-day. In those days the under
II taker would simply be an expert electro
" platter, and instead of a roomful I
d sample collins and caskets he woul
4. simply exhibit few pieces of polishe
IN metal and inquire of his custome
As How would you like to have the d
W ceased finished-in copper, nickel, silv,
I'd or goldp"
id To the man of the future who has
a taste for art and antiques this proce
ut offers great possibilities. Ancestor
nc plated with silver or nickel would
al far more artistic ornaments than Il
- rusty and ancient suits of armor whit
are so highly priced in these day
Armed with lance and shield gran
father thus prepared would furnish
er valuable addition to any collection
IS antiques and bric-a-brac. Beautiful ,
Is, fects could be produced by platil
al bodies with copper, which by atmC
In pheric action soon assumes the appea
ch ance of beautiful bronze. BY the u
of of plush or velvet these bronzes cou
er easily be mounted after the fashion
C. to-day. A copper-covered relative, W
or finished and polished, might be exhi
Is, tied as an excellent specimen of repous
nd work. The use of gold would produ
sr. piece ofpreserved pedigree more va
m, able, more novel and far more beau
ed full than the famous gold-faced mu
re mics which contain all that was NOR
sr- of the Pharaohs of Egypt.
These are but few examples of wi
may be done by this new preservati
process. which is capable of develC